Dressing The Mantel

There's a war going on in my living room. I always think I want to be minimalist. You know, that modern clean farmhouse style that seems so practical and liveable and pretty?

But I love so many more vintage things than grain sacks and ironstone. My brain sees in vignettes, and my heart still loves little vintage German sheep, old French books, and a beautiful Victorian lady photo button in fall colors.

I actually don't change things up that often. but when I brought this crochet valance home from the fleamarket recently, I wondered how it would look covering my dark wood mantel.

I liked it right away. The transformation from dark to light was instant, and since the light has changed in this room, with mostly northern exposure, the mornings are a bit gloomy in here.

There are running gaps on one long edge for this piece to hang from a rod in a window. It would look lovely there.

But a bit of crocheted lace lifts my spirit like sunshine. So it will stay in here awhile longer.

I keep my mantel pretty clear most of the time, both because it is narrow, and because I don't like a cluttered look. I didn't give much thought to what I placed here this time. I just wanted what was handy to keep the cloth in place and then went from there. It changes the entire character of the room! (There are a couple more versions of this mantel at both extremes (empty and full) that you might want to see down on my sidebar.)

A basket and a demijohn at each end, and a few sea stars and a an old stair knob to balance everything out. . . .

A bit of the mirror detail. . . . (This wall is plastered adobe brick which has a softer character than regular brick does.)

The tin tile insert covers the fireplace opening when we are not using the fireplace, and one of my favorite chippy old  picture frames that I feature in autumn with its little gold leaves.

I have thought of painting it a French grey or white. (I would leave the leaves gold.) But I never do. 

 I am enjoying home and being settled after an especially active spell. Fall nesting feels so comfy. We have been trying out a variety of one dish soups and stews. And I'm ready for the warm smell of something lovely baking in the oven. A good book. A soft wool throw. Home and hearth just feels like the best place for me to be this first week of November.

  

Is it getting cozy for you too?

It's time to keep those home fires burning!

Jacqueline

Join me at

French Country Cottage~Feathered Nest Friday

Shabby Art Boutique~Shabbilicious Friday

The Charm of Home~Home Sweet Home

Falling Back

We spent the "extra" hour taking a quiet walk in the mountain woods.

You've already seen a ton of posts of fall foliage. This is ours.

We hike this trail in the summer and always say we will come back to see it in the fall. This was the year.

We went to Vermont in the fall two years ago, and knew not to expect anything quite like that.

Just the quiet turning of color as we made each bend of the path.

I wanted to collect some things to compose an arty photo or two. But in the end I let nature design her own vignettes.

I feel now like the new month is officially launched.

Welcome to November!

 I hope it is just as beautiful for you!

Jacqueline

Ghostly White For A Spooky Night

I found a few fun bottles to add to the atmosphere. That's about as far as my decorating goes for the big spooky night!

But I did find some spectacular things with a Victorian vibe farther afield this weekend, like this little wonderfully crocheted and beaded drawstring purse with a fabulous beaded tassel at the bottom.

There is a mix of frosty and white beads that seem almost otherworldly. The heft is wonderful, and looks to be right out of a movie where a Jane Austin character pulls out a hankie or a little pencil from it to jot a note with.

The little ties have bead work too.

Here are close-ups of the body where you can see the thread work.

There are elevated ridges in the design,

and this is the gathering at the top. YUM!

These lovely chiffon gloves have a ghostly air about them too. The girls will love dressing up with them! 

I should tell you that I seem to often give myself the biggest challenge of photographing all white things. It is quite a tricky thing to do, and not always that successful!

This time I have thrown frosted glass into the mix, but these really are the ghostly things that turned up at the flea this weekend!

A luscious etched bud vase of satin glass.

All things perfect for a spooky bride perhaps. . . .

But wait! There's more!

Another fab find is this antique perfume decanter by Guerlain, Paris from 1870-1880. You can see the winged lady on the bottle in this view, and a few more details below. Guerlain used this bottle with different labels for all their scents at the turn of the century. I was thrilled to find it!

I don't mind at all being haunted by lovely things from the past! 

I'm off spending a little time with the ghouls, but I'll be back soon!

So nice that you stopped by!

Jacqueline